The First International Conference on Happiness and Wellbeing

Promoting Wellbeing: A Positive Psychology Approach

Date: 10th to 12th September 2015

Venue: Tally Ho Training Centre, Birmingham, UK.

Aim of the Conference

This three day event aims to focus on a positive psychology approach to supporting people who sometimes present with challenging behaviours. The key emphasis will be on promoting wellbeing and safe practice.

Who should attend?

The conference is open to frontline workers, professionals and families. We aim to provide both academic knowledge and practitioner skills.

Do you need to be associated with Studio 3?

No, although we always encourage organisations and staff to join our movement.

Accommodation

We are happy to advise about good value accommodation near the conference venue.

Michael Nørager: Michael is a Ph.D. and associate professor of innovation and change management at the University of Aarhus. He has worked in research, teaching, lectures and practical development of organizations and people for more than 20 years.

Damian Milton

Damian Milton: Damian is currently studying for a doctorate at the University of Birmingham. He is a member of the programme board for the Autism Education Trust, and a member of the scientific and advisory committee for Research Autism. Damian works for the National Autistic Society as Head of Autism Knowledge and Expertise (Adults and Community) and as a researcher for London South Bank University. Damian’s interest in autism began when his son was diagnosed in 2005 as autistic at the age of two. Damian was also diagnosed with Asperger’s in 2009 at the age of thirty-six.

Mark Wetherell

Mark Wetherell: Mark is a Reader in the Department of Psychology where he leads programmes on the Psychobiology of Stress and is the Associate Director of the Northumbria Centre for Sleep Research. He is also registered with the Health & Care Professions Council as a Practicing Health Psychologist and is the Postgraduate Programme Director for Health Psychology.

Irina Roncaglia

Irina Roncaglia: Irina has worked for the National Autistic Society (NAS | Sybil Elgar) for over 13 years of which the last 8 years as a Chartered Practitioner Psychologist HCPC Registered. She is a Sport & Exercise Psychologist and a Fellow of the British Psychological Society. She has been a licensed Studio III trainer for over 7 years. Her research interests include Transitions, Lifespan Models, Coping Skills and Processes and Performing Arts. After a professional dancing career for over 15 years with the English National Ballet, she has completed her Doctoral research with Birkbeck University (UK) investigating the Career Transitions in Elite Performers. She is a keen lover and supporter of the Performing and Visual Arts.

Andrew McDonnell

Andrew McDonnell: Andrew is the CEO of Studio 3. He is an international expert in the area of challenging behaviour. Andrew has published extensively in the areas of behaviour management.

Michael McCreadie

Michael McCreadie: Michael is a Health Psychologist with special interests in disorders of development and acquired brain injury.

Bo-Hejlskov-Elven

Bo Hejlskov: Bo is a psychologist and an International expert practitioner on low arousal approaches and author of ‘No Fighting, No Biting, No Screaming’. Bo is well known in Scandinavia for his work in the area of stress and challenging behaviour.

Linda Woodcock

Linda Woodcock: Linda is an expert in challenging behaviour and autism. She has published a book called ‘Managing Family Meltdown’. Linda is a parent of a young adult with autism and has developed an individualised support service for him.

Andrea Page

Andrea Page: Andrea is a Senior Academic at Birmingham City University. She has a specialist interest in learning disability and a strong research interest in the use of physical interventions in hospital settings, especially, when children require treatment.

Francis Evans

Francis Evans: Francis has over 25 years experience of health, social care and specialist education, primarily alongside people with autism. This has been in the NHS and the voluntary sector. Throughout he has worked with those described as challenging. A significant time spent in residential management developed his interest in staff training. Currently he delivers Studio 3 challenging behaviour training as accredited by the British Institute of Learning Disability. He also delivers Level 2 Medication training. His main role is supporting teams to devise person centered, ethical interventions that focus on individual needs and promote the freedom to express personality. The avoidance of restrictive interventions is one of several outcomes that he values. He works with managers, MDT colleagues and external professionals. Most recently he has developed an appreciation of the well being models arising from positive psychology. He plans to incorporate this into outcome measures for those he works with.

Roy Deveau

Roy Deveau: Roy is a research consultant for Studio 3 and an Honorary Research Fellow at the Tizard Centre. Roy has authored numerous articles about the reduction of restrictive practices.